You Make Me Smile (6/6)
Title: You Make Me Smile (6/6)
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Pairing(s): Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles
Summary: Direct sequel to Running Up That Hill fic. Continuing Rizzles but now with Jai. Wonder Twins united to play with Rizzles and: "What the hell is he doing here?"
Disclaimer: General series spoilers and details mentioned in specific episodes. We cannot be held responsible for you knowingly spoiling your own Rizzoli and Isles watching. You should also read Running Up That Hill, but you don’t have to.
AN: Wonder Twins have decided to make a Q & A for the series follow if you dare: Q & A
“Look at my grandson, he’s so big,” Angela cried, scooping Jai out of her daughter’s arms. Accepting a hug from her father Jane rolled her eyes at Maura but didn’t say anything. Jane just shook her head and let her mother go on pretending it had been a year, as opposed to three days, since she saw Jai. But looking around the front hall something was different.
“We havin’ guests, Ma? You put out the good rug. And you’re wearing a new skirt. Who’d you invite?” Guests used to mean a blind date with one of the church ladies’ sons, but that was behind them.
Angela shifted Jai on to her hip and frowned at Jane. “I can’t make the house look nice, is that a crime?” But in the middle of her mother’s self-righteous spiel the doorbell rang.
“Right, Ma,” Jane said, moving to answer the door. The ‘guest’ on the other side was highly unexpected: her youngest brother, Tommy.
“Hey, Janie.”
Maura was pretty sure that Sunday was one of her favorite days of the week, if only because it was ‘family time’. She enjoyed being with the Rizzoli family for many reasons, but she loved watching the way they spoiled Jai with abandon. Catching Jane’s eye roll, she could only smile as she stepped away from her girlfriend to hug her ‘father-in-law’ and accept a half-hug from Frankie Jr.
“Jane, be nice. The house looks beautiful,” Maura reassured her ‘mother-in-law’ while Jane went to answer the door. Even though she wasn’t looking in the direction of her girlfriend, she felt the sudden tension in the air from the moment the door opened. Glancing from Angela, she stared at Jane’s back, and the unfamiliar man that was standing in the doorway. An unfamiliar man that looked a lot like Jane and Frankie Jr.
Fists planted on her hips Jane stared down her black sheep brother. The similarity between the Rizzoli siblings was unmistakable. Sure a scruffy, black beard covered the exact same stubborn chin that Jane had but there was Frankie’s nose, only a little more crooked from a wayward punch. “Don’t call me ‘Janie.,’” was all Jane said before turning laser vision on to her mother. “What the hell is he doing here?”
Feeling a presence at her shoulder Jane moved when Tommy approached. “I’m in AA now, Jane. It’s my eighth and ninth steps: Make a list of people you have harmed and become willing to make amends. Make amends wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
Caught between wanting to move toward Jane and stay near Jai, Maura wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. She had never met Tommy before, but she had heard about him. She knew some of the things he had done, things that neither Jane nor Frankie approved of. Keeping her eyes on Jane, taking in the fists and the sudden anger, she knew that this wasn’t going to turn out well. Not really.
Angela made a move toward Jane, still holding Jai, stubborn as ever when it came to family values. “He’s family, Jane. You have to give him a chance.”
It was difficult for Jane to split her laser vision between her mother and Tommy but she managed. “I’m pretty sure three DUIs, breaking parole and court ordered rehab are enough chances. I don’t have to give you any more.”
Angela opened her mouth to defend her baby but Tommy interrupted. “Its okay Ma, I have trouble forgiving me. Even my worst day in sobriety is better than my best day drunk,” the youngest Rizzoli sibling admitted with a sad smile.
“He’s here to apologize to all of us. The least you can do is hear him out, Janie.” Frankie Sr. offered, knowing that out of all of his children, his only daughter had to be the most stubborn.
“Jane.” Maura’s voice was soft as she stood in place, looking at her girlfriend without saying anymore. She didn’t want there to be a fight. Fighting was not something that Maura liked, especially when it was fighting between family members. She had been through enough of that through her college years. This was her family now, and she really didn’t want to see them fighting.
It was as much Maura’s plea as her father’s that got through to Jane. With an expression that looked like she had swallowed a lemon, Jane wrapped her arm around Maura’s waist. “I don’t want to hear an apology, but I won’t begrudge him family time.”
Knowing that it was as close to acquiescence as Jane would get, tonight, Angela ushered them in to the dining room. “Well you’re late and I made gnocchi.” Jane didn’t follow immediately behind, putting space between herself and Tommy, but instead took comfort from Maura before her mother returned and pushed them to the dining room. “Sit next to your brother, for me,” Angela commanded, pushing Jane down at Frank Sr.’s left hand. Coincidentally next to Tommy.
The tension in the room definitely starting to make her muscles ache, but Maura relaxed the moment she felt Jane’s arm around her waist. Finding a smile to put on her face, she watched as everyone was ushered away, hanging back for just a moment as she leaned over to press a kiss to Jane’s cheek. Separating from Jane, even though she really didn’t want too, Maura took her seat across from the brunette at the dinner table. Jai was sitting next to her, and even though she kept looking at her girlfriend, she made herself busy with their son.
Frankie set on the other side of Jai, glancing at his brother with a look that was definitely starting to rival Jane’s. He wasn’t a fan of his brother either, and although he felt bad that his sister had to sit next to Tommy, he was also glad that it wasn’t him. “So Ma, any plans for after dinner? I was thinking of headin’ down to the gym,” he stated casually after a moment, watching his mother take her place after making sure all of the food was out on the table.
“You mind if I say grace, Pop?” Tommy asked and received a bewildered nod from his father. “It helps me center.” Picking up Jane’s hand, despite her reluctance to accept him back in to the family, Tommy started the prayer. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”
At the short pause Jane tried to drop Tommy’s hand, thinking he was done, but left her hand in his because of the look on her mother’s face.
“Living one day at a time. Enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will. That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him, forever in the next. Amen.”
A moment of silence followed the prayer, only to be broken by Frankie. “What happened to my brother who nearly didn’t have First Communion because he failed Catechism?” At this memory both Jane and Frankie laughed.
Maura listened to the pray, even though she was the one not holding any hands. She was too busy trying to keep Jai from being so loud as he giggled. Running her fingers through his hair, she caught the look that Angela was giving Jane and just had to smile. Family at it’s best, no doubt. When the prayer actually did end, Maura was left out of the laughter, but she was glad to see Jane relax a little.
Beyond the clanking of dishes, scrape of silverware, and Jai’s running commentary it was quiet, no one wanted to break the tenuous truce between the siblings. “Jane this feels weird, aren’t you going to introduce me?” Tommy asked, elbowing his sister in the ribs.
Jane shot him a venomous look but acquiesced. “Tommy, Maura. Maura, my brother,” she said simply, fiercely stabbing a gnocchi and jamming it in to her mouth.
Maura offered Tommy a smile, although it was a little tight considering the circumstances. She had barely touched her plate, more focused on the baby boy beside her that was trying to keep Frankie’s attention and her own at the same time. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said after a moment, running her fingers over Jai’s downy hair.
Frankie glanced away from his plate, reaching over to tickle Jai, the little boy’s laughter loud. “I’ll watch him for a minute, otherwise you’re gonna starve.” he offered, putting down his fork to occupy Jai so that Maura could actually eat something. Nodding, Maura turned to her food, glancing up at Jane from across the table. Her girlfriend was giving the poor gnocchi the dirtiest look as she viciously stabbed it with her fork.
Wanting to comment, but knowing it was better to not to, Maura managed to get a few bites out of her food before Jai was once again trying to get her attention since she was the one sitting next to him and not Jane.
When Jai babbled louder it wasn’t only his mothers that smiled. “He’s really cute Jane, what’s his name?” Tommy asked, trying to build a bridge with his sister.
Jane looked at Tommy for a long moment before turning back to her dinner. But her voice was far nicer than the look she’d given him, “You aren’t stupid Tommy, don’t act like it. You know his name, and I suspect more than that,” Jane said looking towards her mother, who had the grace to look at her plate. But Jane found it hard to hate someone who complimented her son.
Jai, apparently, was intent on being the center of attention as he made himself a little louder, giggling because they were all smiling at him. Knowing that she didn’t have to, but feeling the need all the same, Maura moved away from the table and went to pick up the little boy who was having way too much fun at the dinner table. Looking over at Jane, she gave her a smile. “I’m going to take him upstairs for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Making sure that she had a tight hold on their son, Maura grabbed his bag out of the hallway before heading toward the staircase. Jai had his own room here too, and that was where his changing table was. Jane needed the time with her family, so it was easier for her to just sneak away and change him at the moment. Of course, Maura also had this odd gut churning feeling, and she wanted a moment to just think.
Watching his sister watch her girlfriend climb the stairs Tommy smiled. “You’re really happy for a change, aren’t you Jane? She’s cute, what’s she doin’ with you? But I didn’t know you -”
Jane looked at Tommy with daggers in her eyes. “Don’t talk about her like that and don’t you dare finish that sentence if you don’t want me to hurt you.” Even with the threat Angela Rizzoli didn’t glare at her only daughter; it used to be a common enough threat when her children were growing up, which might be a sign Jane forgave Tommy.
“I’ll be right back, Ma,” Jane announced, scooting out her chair and finishing the glass of water in front of her plate, a nod to Tommy’s being here. Leaving the dining room Jane climbed the stairs and made a quick left at the top of the stairs, in to her old room.
Soothing Jai with confident hands, Maura was taking a moment for herself when she felt a very familiar presence in the doorway. She didn’t have to look to know it was Jane. After so many years of knowing Jane, of being best friends first, she just knew whenever the brunette was around. Most of the time it caused her heart to race just a little, something that she would never admit aloud. Right now, it caused her hands to pause as she worked on getting Jai’s clean diaper on.
“Hey,” her voice was soft, even though there was no reason for it to be. Maura felt nervous for a reason that she couldn’t explain, and the awkward silence at the dinner table had only reinforced the feeling a little. She could count the number of times on one hand that she had felt this way, and none of the situations had ended up good.
Walking up behind Maura and making a face at Jai over the other woman’s shoulder. “I shouldn’t have to forgive him. It wasn’t his third DUI that put him away. Should have been his fourth, but I got him out of holding on the first charge. And he promised me it wouldn’t happen again. Ruined my reputation for a couple years.” Sure the new and improved Tommy wasn’t the same as the one who went to prison. But Jane was reluctant to trust her younger brother again.
“I can’t stop feeling nervous. I don’t know why, but I’ve felt this way all day and it just keeps getting worse,” she confided softly, moving her hands to finish getting his diaper on. Jane was worried about Tommy, and Maura was worried about… she didn’t really know what she was worried about, actually, but she was worried about something. She was usually the one that was always calm, and she didn’t like feeling like this. Feeling like this was something she would equate to Jane losing control of a situation.
“What kind of nervous feeling? Like something is wrong or something is happening?” Jane knew to trust Maura’s instincts, which were almost as good as the detective’s. Picking up the squirmy baby who wanted attention Jane still focused most of her attention on Maura. “You gunna be alright?”
Taking a moment to think about her answer, Maura didn’t look up at Jane, even after she had picked up Jai. Instead, she made herself busy throwing away his old diaper and packing his things back up. “… maybe a bit of both? I can’t be certain quite yet,” she said after a few moments of silence. Making sure that all of his things were in the baby bag she turned to look at Jane and offered her as much of a smile as she could give. “I’ll be fine.”
Truth was, even though Maura would be fine, she didn’t feel… right.
The same instinct that served Jane well as a detective often came in handy when interacting with Maura at her most peculiar. “You’ll tell me if this feeling pans out in to anything? Especially if it’s anything to get us out of here faster,” she finished, attempting to add some levity to the situation. “Let’s go back downstairs.”
Two hours later, when Jane, Maura and Jai were getting ready to leave, the eldest Rizzoli sibling turned to her youngest brother. “Guess you’ll be here next week?” At Tommy’s nod, Jane nodded back. “I guess I’ll see you then.” The greeting was less warm than the hug for her parents and the loving shove for Frankie, but it was a start.
Following her girlfriend back downstairs without a word, Maura started to relax a little, if only because she had told Jane how she felt. The rest of their stay was pleasant, for the most part. There were a few moments in which she thought Jane was going to lay the smack down on either Frankie or Tommy, but thankfully all of it passed without a problem. Holding Jai in her arms, she watched as Jane said goodbye to her family with a smile. She had already been hugged, and in Frankie’s case, nudged in the side with a wink and a smile.
Making sure that Jai was strapped in his seat, Maura got into the passengers side of the car without a word, still feeling uneasy in a way that she hated, but could do nothing about.
Checking on Jai in the mirror Jane smiled at how an hour nap after dinner had left him just as awake as if it had been barely noon instead of coming on eight at night. “I’m still not forgiving him or trusting him. But I can be civil.” She watched the porch where her parents and brothers stood, waving.
“Still feeling hinky?” Jane asked backing out of the driveway.
Waving back at the family on the porch, Maura glanced at Jane out of the corner of her eye, feeling another wave of tension roll over her. “Somewhat,” she offered after a moment, hoping that being back in their own home would make her feel more at ease. Fidgeting in her lap, she kept glancing out the window at the passing building. Her home wasn’t too far from the Rizzoli household, but far enough that she had time to think about what was making her nervous. Not that she had an answer.
Reaching over the consol to hold Maura’s hand Jane tried to reassure her girlfriend. “Why don’t we give Jai a bath when we get home and try to get him down early? Then we can try to figure out what’s making you jumpy.”
Lacing their fingers together, Maura nodded at the suggestion. Bathing Jai was always something that seemed to relax the both of them, and that was something she could use. Squeezing Jane’s hand gently, she smiled at her girlfriend and nodded as they pulled up into the driveway of their home.
“That sounds like a decent plan.”
Hopping out of the car Jane unbuckled Jai from his car-seat and met Maura half way to the house, lacing their fingers together once more. They walked in to the house, avoiding stepping on a very hyper Joe, and settled as a family on the couch, just needing some time to decompress.
But it was too good to be true and Jane handed Jai to Maura with a tired smile, standing to go answer the door. Opening the front door Jane paused at who she saw on the other side. Just because they never met didn’t mean Jane couldn’t identify who was at the door.
Mr. and Mrs. Isles. Maura’s parents.
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Pairing(s): Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles
Summary: Direct sequel to Running Up That Hill fic. Continuing Rizzles but now with Jai. Wonder Twins united to play with Rizzles and: "What the hell is he doing here?"
Disclaimer: General series spoilers and details mentioned in specific episodes. We cannot be held responsible for you knowingly spoiling your own Rizzoli and Isles watching. You should also read Running Up That Hill, but you don’t have to.
AN: Wonder Twins have decided to make a Q & A for the series follow if you dare: Q & A
“Look at my grandson, he’s so big,” Angela cried, scooping Jai out of her daughter’s arms. Accepting a hug from her father Jane rolled her eyes at Maura but didn’t say anything. Jane just shook her head and let her mother go on pretending it had been a year, as opposed to three days, since she saw Jai. But looking around the front hall something was different.
“We havin’ guests, Ma? You put out the good rug. And you’re wearing a new skirt. Who’d you invite?” Guests used to mean a blind date with one of the church ladies’ sons, but that was behind them.
Angela shifted Jai on to her hip and frowned at Jane. “I can’t make the house look nice, is that a crime?” But in the middle of her mother’s self-righteous spiel the doorbell rang.
“Right, Ma,” Jane said, moving to answer the door. The ‘guest’ on the other side was highly unexpected: her youngest brother, Tommy.
“Hey, Janie.”
Maura was pretty sure that Sunday was one of her favorite days of the week, if only because it was ‘family time’. She enjoyed being with the Rizzoli family for many reasons, but she loved watching the way they spoiled Jai with abandon. Catching Jane’s eye roll, she could only smile as she stepped away from her girlfriend to hug her ‘father-in-law’ and accept a half-hug from Frankie Jr.
“Jane, be nice. The house looks beautiful,” Maura reassured her ‘mother-in-law’ while Jane went to answer the door. Even though she wasn’t looking in the direction of her girlfriend, she felt the sudden tension in the air from the moment the door opened. Glancing from Angela, she stared at Jane’s back, and the unfamiliar man that was standing in the doorway. An unfamiliar man that looked a lot like Jane and Frankie Jr.
Fists planted on her hips Jane stared down her black sheep brother. The similarity between the Rizzoli siblings was unmistakable. Sure a scruffy, black beard covered the exact same stubborn chin that Jane had but there was Frankie’s nose, only a little more crooked from a wayward punch. “Don’t call me ‘Janie.,’” was all Jane said before turning laser vision on to her mother. “What the hell is he doing here?”
Feeling a presence at her shoulder Jane moved when Tommy approached. “I’m in AA now, Jane. It’s my eighth and ninth steps: Make a list of people you have harmed and become willing to make amends. Make amends wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
Caught between wanting to move toward Jane and stay near Jai, Maura wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. She had never met Tommy before, but she had heard about him. She knew some of the things he had done, things that neither Jane nor Frankie approved of. Keeping her eyes on Jane, taking in the fists and the sudden anger, she knew that this wasn’t going to turn out well. Not really.
Angela made a move toward Jane, still holding Jai, stubborn as ever when it came to family values. “He’s family, Jane. You have to give him a chance.”
It was difficult for Jane to split her laser vision between her mother and Tommy but she managed. “I’m pretty sure three DUIs, breaking parole and court ordered rehab are enough chances. I don’t have to give you any more.”
Angela opened her mouth to defend her baby but Tommy interrupted. “Its okay Ma, I have trouble forgiving me. Even my worst day in sobriety is better than my best day drunk,” the youngest Rizzoli sibling admitted with a sad smile.
“He’s here to apologize to all of us. The least you can do is hear him out, Janie.” Frankie Sr. offered, knowing that out of all of his children, his only daughter had to be the most stubborn.
“Jane.” Maura’s voice was soft as she stood in place, looking at her girlfriend without saying anymore. She didn’t want there to be a fight. Fighting was not something that Maura liked, especially when it was fighting between family members. She had been through enough of that through her college years. This was her family now, and she really didn’t want to see them fighting.
It was as much Maura’s plea as her father’s that got through to Jane. With an expression that looked like she had swallowed a lemon, Jane wrapped her arm around Maura’s waist. “I don’t want to hear an apology, but I won’t begrudge him family time.”
Knowing that it was as close to acquiescence as Jane would get, tonight, Angela ushered them in to the dining room. “Well you’re late and I made gnocchi.” Jane didn’t follow immediately behind, putting space between herself and Tommy, but instead took comfort from Maura before her mother returned and pushed them to the dining room. “Sit next to your brother, for me,” Angela commanded, pushing Jane down at Frank Sr.’s left hand. Coincidentally next to Tommy.
The tension in the room definitely starting to make her muscles ache, but Maura relaxed the moment she felt Jane’s arm around her waist. Finding a smile to put on her face, she watched as everyone was ushered away, hanging back for just a moment as she leaned over to press a kiss to Jane’s cheek. Separating from Jane, even though she really didn’t want too, Maura took her seat across from the brunette at the dinner table. Jai was sitting next to her, and even though she kept looking at her girlfriend, she made herself busy with their son.
Frankie set on the other side of Jai, glancing at his brother with a look that was definitely starting to rival Jane’s. He wasn’t a fan of his brother either, and although he felt bad that his sister had to sit next to Tommy, he was also glad that it wasn’t him. “So Ma, any plans for after dinner? I was thinking of headin’ down to the gym,” he stated casually after a moment, watching his mother take her place after making sure all of the food was out on the table.
“You mind if I say grace, Pop?” Tommy asked and received a bewildered nod from his father. “It helps me center.” Picking up Jane’s hand, despite her reluctance to accept him back in to the family, Tommy started the prayer. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”
At the short pause Jane tried to drop Tommy’s hand, thinking he was done, but left her hand in his because of the look on her mother’s face.
“Living one day at a time. Enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will. That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him, forever in the next. Amen.”
A moment of silence followed the prayer, only to be broken by Frankie. “What happened to my brother who nearly didn’t have First Communion because he failed Catechism?” At this memory both Jane and Frankie laughed.
Maura listened to the pray, even though she was the one not holding any hands. She was too busy trying to keep Jai from being so loud as he giggled. Running her fingers through his hair, she caught the look that Angela was giving Jane and just had to smile. Family at it’s best, no doubt. When the prayer actually did end, Maura was left out of the laughter, but she was glad to see Jane relax a little.
Beyond the clanking of dishes, scrape of silverware, and Jai’s running commentary it was quiet, no one wanted to break the tenuous truce between the siblings. “Jane this feels weird, aren’t you going to introduce me?” Tommy asked, elbowing his sister in the ribs.
Jane shot him a venomous look but acquiesced. “Tommy, Maura. Maura, my brother,” she said simply, fiercely stabbing a gnocchi and jamming it in to her mouth.
Maura offered Tommy a smile, although it was a little tight considering the circumstances. She had barely touched her plate, more focused on the baby boy beside her that was trying to keep Frankie’s attention and her own at the same time. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said after a moment, running her fingers over Jai’s downy hair.
Frankie glanced away from his plate, reaching over to tickle Jai, the little boy’s laughter loud. “I’ll watch him for a minute, otherwise you’re gonna starve.” he offered, putting down his fork to occupy Jai so that Maura could actually eat something. Nodding, Maura turned to her food, glancing up at Jane from across the table. Her girlfriend was giving the poor gnocchi the dirtiest look as she viciously stabbed it with her fork.
Wanting to comment, but knowing it was better to not to, Maura managed to get a few bites out of her food before Jai was once again trying to get her attention since she was the one sitting next to him and not Jane.
When Jai babbled louder it wasn’t only his mothers that smiled. “He’s really cute Jane, what’s his name?” Tommy asked, trying to build a bridge with his sister.
Jane looked at Tommy for a long moment before turning back to her dinner. But her voice was far nicer than the look she’d given him, “You aren’t stupid Tommy, don’t act like it. You know his name, and I suspect more than that,” Jane said looking towards her mother, who had the grace to look at her plate. But Jane found it hard to hate someone who complimented her son.
Jai, apparently, was intent on being the center of attention as he made himself a little louder, giggling because they were all smiling at him. Knowing that she didn’t have to, but feeling the need all the same, Maura moved away from the table and went to pick up the little boy who was having way too much fun at the dinner table. Looking over at Jane, she gave her a smile. “I’m going to take him upstairs for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Making sure that she had a tight hold on their son, Maura grabbed his bag out of the hallway before heading toward the staircase. Jai had his own room here too, and that was where his changing table was. Jane needed the time with her family, so it was easier for her to just sneak away and change him at the moment. Of course, Maura also had this odd gut churning feeling, and she wanted a moment to just think.
Watching his sister watch her girlfriend climb the stairs Tommy smiled. “You’re really happy for a change, aren’t you Jane? She’s cute, what’s she doin’ with you? But I didn’t know you -”
Jane looked at Tommy with daggers in her eyes. “Don’t talk about her like that and don’t you dare finish that sentence if you don’t want me to hurt you.” Even with the threat Angela Rizzoli didn’t glare at her only daughter; it used to be a common enough threat when her children were growing up, which might be a sign Jane forgave Tommy.
“I’ll be right back, Ma,” Jane announced, scooting out her chair and finishing the glass of water in front of her plate, a nod to Tommy’s being here. Leaving the dining room Jane climbed the stairs and made a quick left at the top of the stairs, in to her old room.
Soothing Jai with confident hands, Maura was taking a moment for herself when she felt a very familiar presence in the doorway. She didn’t have to look to know it was Jane. After so many years of knowing Jane, of being best friends first, she just knew whenever the brunette was around. Most of the time it caused her heart to race just a little, something that she would never admit aloud. Right now, it caused her hands to pause as she worked on getting Jai’s clean diaper on.
“Hey,” her voice was soft, even though there was no reason for it to be. Maura felt nervous for a reason that she couldn’t explain, and the awkward silence at the dinner table had only reinforced the feeling a little. She could count the number of times on one hand that she had felt this way, and none of the situations had ended up good.
Walking up behind Maura and making a face at Jai over the other woman’s shoulder. “I shouldn’t have to forgive him. It wasn’t his third DUI that put him away. Should have been his fourth, but I got him out of holding on the first charge. And he promised me it wouldn’t happen again. Ruined my reputation for a couple years.” Sure the new and improved Tommy wasn’t the same as the one who went to prison. But Jane was reluctant to trust her younger brother again.
“I can’t stop feeling nervous. I don’t know why, but I’ve felt this way all day and it just keeps getting worse,” she confided softly, moving her hands to finish getting his diaper on. Jane was worried about Tommy, and Maura was worried about… she didn’t really know what she was worried about, actually, but she was worried about something. She was usually the one that was always calm, and she didn’t like feeling like this. Feeling like this was something she would equate to Jane losing control of a situation.
“What kind of nervous feeling? Like something is wrong or something is happening?” Jane knew to trust Maura’s instincts, which were almost as good as the detective’s. Picking up the squirmy baby who wanted attention Jane still focused most of her attention on Maura. “You gunna be alright?”
Taking a moment to think about her answer, Maura didn’t look up at Jane, even after she had picked up Jai. Instead, she made herself busy throwing away his old diaper and packing his things back up. “… maybe a bit of both? I can’t be certain quite yet,” she said after a few moments of silence. Making sure that all of his things were in the baby bag she turned to look at Jane and offered her as much of a smile as she could give. “I’ll be fine.”
Truth was, even though Maura would be fine, she didn’t feel… right.
The same instinct that served Jane well as a detective often came in handy when interacting with Maura at her most peculiar. “You’ll tell me if this feeling pans out in to anything? Especially if it’s anything to get us out of here faster,” she finished, attempting to add some levity to the situation. “Let’s go back downstairs.”
Two hours later, when Jane, Maura and Jai were getting ready to leave, the eldest Rizzoli sibling turned to her youngest brother. “Guess you’ll be here next week?” At Tommy’s nod, Jane nodded back. “I guess I’ll see you then.” The greeting was less warm than the hug for her parents and the loving shove for Frankie, but it was a start.
Following her girlfriend back downstairs without a word, Maura started to relax a little, if only because she had told Jane how she felt. The rest of their stay was pleasant, for the most part. There were a few moments in which she thought Jane was going to lay the smack down on either Frankie or Tommy, but thankfully all of it passed without a problem. Holding Jai in her arms, she watched as Jane said goodbye to her family with a smile. She had already been hugged, and in Frankie’s case, nudged in the side with a wink and a smile.
Making sure that Jai was strapped in his seat, Maura got into the passengers side of the car without a word, still feeling uneasy in a way that she hated, but could do nothing about.
Checking on Jai in the mirror Jane smiled at how an hour nap after dinner had left him just as awake as if it had been barely noon instead of coming on eight at night. “I’m still not forgiving him or trusting him. But I can be civil.” She watched the porch where her parents and brothers stood, waving.
“Still feeling hinky?” Jane asked backing out of the driveway.
Waving back at the family on the porch, Maura glanced at Jane out of the corner of her eye, feeling another wave of tension roll over her. “Somewhat,” she offered after a moment, hoping that being back in their own home would make her feel more at ease. Fidgeting in her lap, she kept glancing out the window at the passing building. Her home wasn’t too far from the Rizzoli household, but far enough that she had time to think about what was making her nervous. Not that she had an answer.
Reaching over the consol to hold Maura’s hand Jane tried to reassure her girlfriend. “Why don’t we give Jai a bath when we get home and try to get him down early? Then we can try to figure out what’s making you jumpy.”
Lacing their fingers together, Maura nodded at the suggestion. Bathing Jai was always something that seemed to relax the both of them, and that was something she could use. Squeezing Jane’s hand gently, she smiled at her girlfriend and nodded as they pulled up into the driveway of their home.
“That sounds like a decent plan.”
Hopping out of the car Jane unbuckled Jai from his car-seat and met Maura half way to the house, lacing their fingers together once more. They walked in to the house, avoiding stepping on a very hyper Joe, and settled as a family on the couch, just needing some time to decompress.
But it was too good to be true and Jane handed Jai to Maura with a tired smile, standing to go answer the door. Opening the front door Jane paused at who she saw on the other side. Just because they never met didn’t mean Jane couldn’t identify who was at the door.
Mr. and Mrs. Isles. Maura’s parents.